Diver&#39;s light



y 1947- i EKLEBERRY 2,420,362

DIVERS LIGHT Filed Oct. 5, 1944 Inventor Patented May 13, 1947 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE DIVERS LIGHT James F. Ekleberry, Miami, Fla.,assignor of one-half to 0. Roy Miller, Miami, Fla.

Application October 6, 1944, Serial No. 557,465

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a divers light and more particularly to such alight adapted to be applied to the helmet of a diver.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improveddivers light characterized by the provision of means for adjusting theangle of the light.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of meansin association with such a light whereby the pressure contained in thelamp itself is equalized with the pressure on the inside of the divingsuit to compensate the water pressure against the glass thereof.

A still further object is the provision of such a light which may bereadily adjusted. by the diver.

Still another object is the provision of such a light which will besubstantially leak-proof, which will be sturdy and durable inconstruction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simpleand inexpensive to install and manufacture.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as thedescription of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of thisinventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a diver helmet showing thelight in assembled relation therewith.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view partially in section and partially inelevation showing the light disclosed in Figure l, and

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the light as seen in Figure 2.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings, there is shown at H] a fragment ofa divers helmet provided with the customary guarded apertures for visionI i and the conventional front plate I2 adapted to be secured in closedposition as by a wing nut is in conventional manner.

Integral with or secured to in sealed relation the helmet I2 is a lamphousing generally indicated at [5 provided with a socket-shaped interiorportion l6 and a plurality of fluid-tight sealing rings ll. Positionedwithin the socket i5 is a ball-shaped portion its having a conicalinterior depression l9 and being provided with a reflector 28. At theextremity of depression i9 is a light bulb socket 2i supplied by currentthrough a cord 22 extending from a desired source of electrical powerand having positioned therein an electric lamp 23.

The outer end of ball-shaped member I8 is flared as at 24 and providedwith threads 25 adapted to engage with the corresponding threads of anannulus 26 having a flange 21 thereon providing a circular opening,within which is adapted to be positioned a plate 28 of relatively heavyglass.

Ball member is is movably secured within socket It as by a curvedannulus 30 which is held in position exteriorly of the greatest diameterof the ball as by screws 3| engaging in suitable sockets 32.

It will now be seen that the light may be readily adjusted manually toany desired angle within the normal range of the divers view, and thatsuch adjustment may be made manually by the diver with a minimum ofeffort. It will also be seen that the lamp remains fluid-tight under allpositions of normal adjustment. Obviously, the number of sealing ringscan be increased as may be necessary to insure such a fluid tight seal.

One primary difficulty in the use of divers lights hitherto known hasresided in the fact that the glass protecting the light must be ofexceedingly great thickness to resist the pressure of the outside water,at any material depth.

An important feature of this invention is the provision of means forovercoming such difllculty. This is accomplished by providing acommunication for air between the interior of the housing l5 and thedivers suit, wherein the pressure is retained at a sufficient height atall times to resist the pressure of the outside water thereon. Fromrecess I6 in housing 15 a bore 35 extends through ball-shaped member [8having its inner extremity in communication with the conical recess l9and its outer extremity positioned adjacent the socket 2| in suchposition that it will not be adapted to be closed by any normal rotationor variation in movement of the ball I8. From this it will be seen thatthe pressure on the inside of glass plate 28 is at all times equal tothe pressure within the divers suit, and that such pressure is effectiveto preclude the possi-' bility of the breaking of the glass andconsequent disruption of the light bulb.

Obviously, any suitable guard members may be provided to protect theglass 28 from accidental breakage.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided adevice accomplishing all the objects of this invention and othersincluding many advantages of great practical utility and commercialimportance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and. as manymodifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Iclaim:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a divershelmet, a casing thereon forming a socket, a ball member having an openrecess therein movably seated in said socket, a light secured in saidrecess, sealing rings positioned about said socket, transparent meansclosing the open end of said recess, and means equalizin the airpressure in said recess with that of the surrounding fluid, saidlast-mentioned means including means forming a passage communicatingwith the interior of said divers helmet.

2. In a light for a divers helmet, the combination of a socket securedto the helmet, a ball having a recess therein' in said socket, a lightsecured in said recess, a transparent closure for said recess, sealingmeans between said ball and said socket, and means forming a passagethrough said ball and socket for equalizing the interior pressure onsaid transparent closure.

3. In a light for a divers helmet the combination of a first recessedmember secured to said helmet, a second recessed member secured inswiveling engagement with said first member, sealing means insubstantially air and water tight engagement with said members, a. lightsecured in the recess of said second member, a transparent closure forsaid last mentioned recess and a passage through each of said membersfor equalizing the air pressure in said last mentioned recess with thatof the surrounding fluid.

JAMES F. EKLEBERRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

